Valletta ended their five-year wait for derby glory with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Floriana at the National Stadium.
It was a fully deserved win for the Citizens, who dominated the match from start to finish. However, their task was made easier by the early dismissal of Floriana midfielder Charles MโMombwa, which left the Greens playing almost the entire match with ten men.
Despite their numerical advantage, Valletta had to remain patient as Thane Micallefโs side struggled to break down a resilient Floriana defense. The breakthrough finally arrived midway through the second half when Yuri Messias struck with a precise low drive. From that moment on, there was no way back for Floriana, who ended the match with nine men before Valletta sealed the win in stoppage time.
Early Drama as Floriana Reduced to Ten
The gameโs complexion changed as early as the ninth minute. Jefferson de Assis burst forward for Valletta in a rapid counter-attack, only to be cynically brought down by MโMombwa, who was Florianaโs last man. Referee Philip Farrugia had no choice but to brandish a straight red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Valletta immediately went on the offensive and came agonizingly close to taking the lead on 21 minutes. Sava Radic surged into the box and sent a low ball across the face of goal, but Jefferson failed to connect in front of an empty net.
The Citizens continued to dictate play, yet clear chances were scarce. Just before halftime, Jefferson had another golden opportunity when he broke free and beat the onrushing goalkeeper, but his effort was miraculously cleared off the line by Lucas Lopez.
Messias Breaks the Deadlock
Floriana nearly stunned Valletta early in the second half after a defensive lapse. Rui Areias pounced on a long ball and found himself one-on-one with Adilson Maringa, but he dragged his shot wide of the target โ a costly miss for the Greens.
Minutes later, Valletta made them pay. In the 58th minute, Messias latched onto a clever flick from Jefferson and unleashed a low, powerful strike that gave goalkeeper Andrea Cioletti no chance, sending Vallettaโs supporters into raptures.
Messias nearly doubled the lead five minutes from time when he raced through on goal, but this time he fired over the bar with only Cioletti to beat.
Floriana Finish With Nine Men
As the match entered its closing stages, Florianaโs misery deepened. Substitute Mattija Veselji tumbled inside the box and appealed for a penalty, but the referee waved play on and booked him for simulation. Fourth official Matthew Degabriele then alerted the referee that Veselji had already been cautioned earlier, resulting in a second yellow card and his dismissal.
With Floriana down to nine men, Valletta took full advantage. Deep into stoppage time, substitutes Andrea Zammit and Andrea Ciolacu combined brilliantly, with Ciolacu slotting home to seal a memorable derby win and Vallettaโs second consecutive victory of the season.
Elsewhere: ฤฆamrun Spartans Stay Unbeaten
In another match, ฤฆamrun Spartans preserved their unbeaten start to the YoHealth Malta Premier League with a narrow 1-0 win over ลปabbar St Patrick at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.
Brazilian defender Rafael Compri was the hero for the reigning champions, smashing in the decisive goal midway through the second half. The victory moved ฤฆamrun to eight points, alongside Valletta at the top.
ฤฆamrun dominated possession for much of the match and, once ahead, managed the game expertly to deny their opponents any real chance of a late equalizer.
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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